When evaluating prospects, teams are often enamored with upside—players who possess rare athletic traits or untapped potential. But while ceiling projections dominate the conversation, there's immense value in identifying prospects with the highest floor—players who, regardless of further development, are already polished in their craft and project as safe, reliable contributors at the next level.
Below, we’ll dive into a few players with the highest floor in the 2025 NFL Draft class, and why they’re viewed as safe bets to succeed early in their careers.
Xavier Restrepo, WR, Miami
If you’re looking for players that ‘wow’ with measurables or testing, you won’t find Xavier Restrepo’s name in the bucket. However, as teams search for flat-out good football players and a true professional, Miami’s all-time leading receiver in Restrepo is right atop the list. He understands the finer nuances of the position, has elite hands at all three depths, and is a player whose skill set should translate immediately to the next level. Reggie Wayne, Michael Irvin, Santana Moss… not one had more receiving yards than Restrepo did during their time at Miami.
Donovan Jackson, OL, Ohio State
There isn’t a Joe Alt in this class where you know you’re going to get All-Pro type of play immediately, but Donovan Jackson is as safe a bet as there is up front in a class where evaluations fluctuate by the week. Whether Jackson aligned at guard during his time for the Buckeyes, or at tackle for a majority of 2024, his ability to play at either spot at a high level further expanded his prospect profile.
Jack Bech, WR, TCU
Just a few years ago as a true freshman, Jack Bech led the LSU Tigers in receiving. Current NFLers Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr, Kayshon Boutte, and Trey Palmer were also on the roster down in Baton Rouge. While Bech transferred to the Horned Frogs to finish his collegiate career, the production never stopped. He amassed more than 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns in his senior season this fall. A three-level threat with outstanding hands, aerial ability, and toughness, Bech projects as a top-three target within an NFL offense the moment he steps into a facility.
RJ Oben, EDGE, Notre Dame
If a player can stop the run, it often paves the way for snaps early on in a career. While RJ Oben failed to match his pass-rush success in South Bend this past fall as he did at Duke in the prior three seasons, seeing him dominate the fringe areas live at the Senior Bowl was a joy to watch. He was unblockable most of the week in run drills. Teams in need of a player who can set the edge will prioritize Oben, and clubs that take a peek at his Duke tape (93 pressures and 14 sacks) will also see a defender with an intriguing pass-rush profile.
